Winner of the Thames lens' Nature category "The Coming Storm", credit: Luke Sampson
Demonstrating the PLA’s commitment to addressing climate-related risks and ensuring long-term resilience, the PLA has published its Climate Change Adaptation Report to DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs) in December 2024. The PLA has been voluntarily reporting to DEFRA since the Climate Change Act 2008, identifying the key risks to the tidal Thames, such as extreme storms and river floods.
Understanding how to identify and mitigate risks and modelling the impacts of climate change means that the PLA can better plan for them. PLA’s Senior Environment, Sustainability and Governance Advisor, Lavinia Mihai, explains:
“Climate-related risks are interconnected and can have cascading effects across various sectors and systems. This iteration of the report has identified our key interdependent risks likesupply chain disruption, or energy infrastructure vulnerability which will be detailed with relevant stakeholders to identify actions to mitigate and control the impact.”
Safety and sustainability continue to be at the heart of the PLA’s mission.
A new, innovative carbon reduction programme is being trialled at London Gateway, aimed at helping cargo importers cut their emissions.
From the 1 January 2025, the Carbon Inset Programme is rewarding importers with 50kg CO2e of carbon credits for every loaded container that they move through the terminal. These independently certified credits, issued quarterly, will showcase participating companies’ efforts to reduce emissions in their supply chains.
Unlike traditional carbon offset credits, which compensate for emissions through external projects like tree planting, inset credits reflect a tangible reduction in emissions achieved directly in a company’s own supply chain. For businesses, this represents a transparent and measurable way to cut Scope-3 emissions – indirectly produced along the supply chain, while demonstrating sustainability commitments to customers.
Thames Barrier: have your say!
Credit: Environment Agency
The Environment Agency (EA) is inviting river users who may be affected by any changes to the Thames Barrier to share their thoughts. The EA’s Thames Barrier Scheme of Operations sets out the movement of the gates for: test closures, experiments, and renewing or replacement works. (Although they are making no changes to it currently, they are expecting to make significant changes in the future.)
The Scheme is prepared in consultation with river users and is approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It now requires its three yearly update and approval from DEFRA.
The Environment Agency encourages anyone who might be affected or who wishes to follow future consultations on the Scheme to complete the form.
The current Scheme is open for consultation until 19 February 2025.
In case you missed it, this short film, starring the PLA’s Air Quality Technical Advisor, Grace Staines, showcases some of the sustainability work the PLA is doing, with a focus on tugboats, and Svitzer in particular.
The film, produced by BBC StoryWorks and presented by the World Ocean Council, is part of an online series, “Blue Horizons”.
It provides a compelling case study that shows how the PLA is using RightShip’s Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP) to reduce port emissions and improve air quality.
The PLA is calling on communities in Wandsworth, Barking and Dagenham, and Havering to share their ideas and ambitions for the River Thames in their area.
All responses will be used by the PLA to inform its Tidal Thames Masterplan, which seeks to increase the river’s use for communities, businesses and recreation, as well as enhance its natural environment.
Last Sunday (12 January), congregations from north and south of the river converged on London Bridge for the annual blessing of the Thames, offering prayers to bridge and river users. The ceremony also remembers those who have lost their lives in its waters over the last 12 months.
Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions around the world and is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
On 1 February, the Year of the Snake will begin and to celebrate, London Museum Docklands will have a free, family festival with dragon dances, folktales, crafts and community-led events.
1-2 Feb 2025 | 10am-5pm | Free with booking required | Families
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